Apparatus for the conversion of unmalted grain



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E. LUCK. APPARATUS FOB. THE CONVERSION 0F UNMALTBD GRAIN. No. 278,985.

Patented June 5, A1883.

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, E. LUCK.

APPARATUS POR THB GoNvERsIoN 0F UNMALTED GRAIN.

YPatented June V5,1883.

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. l ,UNITED STATES EDVARD LUCK, OF STAll'IFORD PATENT OFFICE,

STREET, BLACKFRIARS, COUNTY OF SURE-EY,

VENGLAND.,

APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION OF UNMALTED G-R'AIN.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No.`278,985, dated-June 5, 1888,

Application tiled March 30, 1883. (No model.) Patented in England September 7, 1881, No. v3,881 in France February 3, 1882, No. 147,201 in Belgium February 13, 1882, No. 57,064; in Germany February 14. 1882, No. 19.535, in Spain June 7, 1882, No. 2,714,

and in India July 13, ISS-2, No. 741.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD LUCK, 'a citizen of England, residing at Stamford Street, Blackfriars, in the county of Surrey, England, i have invented a new and useful ImprovementV in Apparatus for the Conversion of Unmalted, Grain, also applicable for heating or boiling' other substances with steam, air, or gases, (for which I have obtained patents in Great Britain, dated September 7, 188,1, No. 3,881; France, dated February 3, 1882, No. 147, 201; Belgium, dated February 13, 1882, No. 57 ,064; Germany, dated February 14, 1882, No. 19,535, Spain, dated June 7, 1882, No. 2,714, and 1ndia, dated July 13, 18,82, No. 741,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus used in the gelatinization ofunmalted grain, or its conversion into a wort or material suitable for brewers, distill ers, and other purposes.

The construction and mode of operation of said apparatus will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the sa-mc 5 Fig. 2, a part plan, Fig. 3, a sectional plan on line X X, Fig. 1, and Figs. to 9, details to an enlarged scale.

rlhe apparatus consists of a closed vessel, A, through the stuffing-box a in the cover of which passes a hollow shaft, B, to the upper end of which steam is supplied by a pipe, b. To the shaft rotary motion is imparted by means of bevel-wheels b b2, of which b is driven by any convenient motor. The lower end of the shaft B is carried in a stop-bearing, a', and near its lower end it has formed upon it the radially-projecting arms C, the peculiar form of which will be more readily seen in the enlarged part elevations of the shaft at right angles to each other at Figs. d and 5, and the part plan at Fig. 6. Each arm consists of an inclined plate, c, on which are iianges c c, forming an inclined trough that communicates with the interior of the shaft B by means of the openings b3, as shown at Fig. 5, Vin which the section through the arm .is taken on the -line Y Y, Fig. 4. To these arms C are attached extensions C', formed as` shown in the detached front view at Fig. 7, and end view at Fig. 8'

from the shaft B by means of rods E, the up per ends of which are secured to a ring, F, bolted between the flanges of the shaft B, which, for convenience7 sake, is made of' two separate lengths. The arms are also connected together at their outer ends by the rods G.

From the above-described arrangement it will be seen that as the shaft B, with the hollow arms C C, is made to revolve inV the direction of the arrows, steam will issue from the perforations in a backward and downward direction among the liquor and grain to be gelatinized contained in the vat, and in heating or boiling the contents, so as to effect the gelatinization or conversion of the grain, the steam will, in impinging against the bottom of the vat, prevent any accumulation of the grain at that point, while at the Sametime the inclined front faces of the arms will, in revolving with the shaft, tend to propel the grain and liquid in an upward direction', thus insuring an effectual stirring up ofthe mass.

The lvat is provided with a gage-glass at H for observing the height of the li quid, and with a man-hole closed bya cover, l, through which the grain to be gelatinized or converted, the liquid acid, and any other ingredients necessary for the process are introduced. A safetyvalve and pressure-gage are also provided, and a valve, K, at bottom for emptying the liquor out of the vat; also a cock atany convenient point for drawing off a sample of the liquors for testing.

The vat maybe of any suitable material, but

when acids are used in the process I prefer to make the internal parts of gun-metal or other material capable of resisting their action.

The part ofthe plates cc2 outside the troughs c' c" may be formed with perforations, if desired, to lessen the resistance of rotation ofthe arms through the mass.

Although I have described the said apparatus as applied to the gelatinization or con'version of unmalted grain, yet it will be evident that it may be used with equal advantage -for treating or boiling other liquid or semi-liquid or granular substances or washes with steam, air, or gases, such as for soap-boiling or for the candle-making processes.

I am aware that stirrers have been used in connection with steam to comminute or disintegrate grain for distill-mash or for other purposes.

I am also aware that steam has been introduced into a receiver through pipes radiating from a central pipe, which' are rotated by the egress of the steam to permeate the mash, and at the same time stir and agitate the same by the said rotating pipes.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claiml. In apparatus forthe gelatinization or conversion of grain, or for treating other sub- 'stances with steam, air, or gases, the combination, with'a closed vessel, of a revolving hollow vertical shaft with hollow arms having inclined perforated faces, so that the steam passing down the shaft and into the arms will issue through the Aperforations Vin a backward and downward direction, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the shaft B, arms C.

EDVARD LUCK.

V-itnesses:

' OLIVER IMRAY,

XV. WEsTLEY. 

